sykas removal — Nikos Sykas’ challenge against his removal from the Disy ballot has been firmly rejected by the court of appeal, confirming that the matter holds no practical effect.
- sykas removal — Nikos Sykas’ challenge against his removal from the Disy ballot has been firmly rejected by the court of appeal, confirming that the matter holds no practical effect.
- Furthermore, the court ordered Sykas to cover costs amounting to €4,000, plus VAT, in favour of Disy. This financial burden adds another layer to the ongoing fallout from his removal.
On Thursday, the court dismissed Sykas’ appeal regarding an earlier interim ruling that had already allowed the party’s politburo to ratify his exclusion from the candidate list for the parliamentary elections in Limassol. This decision came shortly after the party body had ratified Sykas’ removal on February 28.
The judges noted that the legal dispute had become moot since the politburo had moved forward with their decision, underlining that courts typically do not entertain “academic issues or disputes that no longer have a practical effect.” This effectively marks the end of Sykas’ legal efforts to reverse the ruling through the court system.
Initially, Sykas sought a declaration asserting that the decisions made by Disy to exclude him were unlawful and exceeded the party’s authority. However, a lower court had dismissed his request for an interim order, categorising it merely as a precautionary measure. The court acknowledged that while Sykas presented a debatable case, there was a lack of evidence indicating an “immediate and unavoidable risk of serious damage” that could not be remedied later.
In his appeal, Sykas contended that the lower court misapplied the criteria necessary for issuing an injunction and failed to recognise that the harm he faced could not be compensated financially. However, the court of appeal turned down his request to annul the party’s final decision, stating that such a ruling would exceed the jurisdiction of an appeal.
Furthermore, the court ordered Sykas to cover costs amounting to €4,000, plus VAT, in favour of Disy. This financial burden adds another layer to the ongoing fallout from his removal.
Sykas had originally been selected as a candidate for Limassol in October 2025 through an internal party process. His exclusion stemmed from a public complaint of physical violence against his partner that surfaced in January 2026. Although this complaint was later withdrawn, the repercussions continued to resonate within political and legal circles.
In a related development, the supreme court had previously lifted Sykas’ parliamentary immunity, allowing police to investigate the allegations further. Disy leadership has maintained that Sykas’ removal was based on firm principles, with party leader Annita Demetriou remarking that “violence of any kind is incompatible with our values.”
